Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1887-09-03

what's going to help us. Jamestown,
Cades Corners, over to the Ford, and at
Eganis, where we always had big vote,
there amt man fer us. There's two
thousand good votes gone kerhummix
andNus out in the cold. Promises amt
any good; moneys no use any where.
told them that if they'd stand by us
this time we'd lower the taxes next
year. They just laughed and said as
how I'd said that ten years ago and it
hadn't come about, and how us fellers
in Office were all robbers and living off
the people. Curse the derned people!
So now boys. it's come to this: That
losing these, we've only got about seven
hundred votes left to win on and the m
votes over in Jacoville. Them votes
are powerful shaky too, but eff we hold
'em we can't be beat. How're we go
ing to hold 'em? Set Red Scotty free!
Don't like that Carruth. You know
Scotty.,"
Carruth did know Scotty. He was
the leader of the evil spirits in Jacoville
the head of an organized band OF
thieves who ruled the little town with
lawless power. It was the heaven to
which they fed in all times of danger
For years they had terrorized the
oorder, but the summer preceding this
campaign Sheriff Carruth determined
to root them out, captured Scotty and
locke him up.
He had lain in his cell for months
awaiting a trial, and then, though sew
eral attempts had been made to free
him, he remained prisoner.
His arrest had been a severe blow to
the welfare of Jacoville. It's inhabi-
tants no longer found pleasure in their
pur uits, for tn ir source of inspiration
was gone.
They gave themselves up to regret
over his captivity and to invoking curses
upon the head of his captor.
Their day of vengeance came soon
enough. Carruth's candidacy for re-
election opened the way for them to pay
the debt. Even if Scotty could not be
freed, Carruth should not remain his
guardian. The ballot became thei1
weapon of attack.
At this juncture Slocum appeared
among them. held several mysterious
conferences, freely distributed liquor,
and when he was gone, Jacoville knew
that in consideration of its seven hun
dred votes going to Carruth for Sheriff,
Scotty might 60 free. The exact terms
of the bargain or how it was to lie car
ried out no one knew.
And Slocum returning home laid the
plan Eefore Sheriff Carruth.
"Fer," said he, ignoring Carruth's plea
for honor in political work, "ef yer
don't do it, Carruth, yer beaten and so
is the party. Yer derned squeamish
ness will bust us all up. Do yer sup
pose the boys will he'll yer after yer
acting like that? There's nothing hard
about it. I don't care how yer let
Scotty so. Fix it up any way yer
choose. Only, if yer don't have him
on the road ter Jacoville the night be-
fore elecshun, we'd all better scoot up
Salt Creek"
Carruth saw the point.
But he could not answer yet. Tell |
ing Slocum that he would decide the |
next day, he went out into the night
alone.
When once under the stars his self |
possession came back and he reasoned |
with himself. To yield meant no par
ticular harm to him, and much benefit.
To refuse brought with it not only his
own defeat, but the overthrow of his
party.
He meant to be honest and do well
by all men, but now he was calmly
a proposition to free a
criminal that the salvation of "a political
party might be insured.
He found no relief in considering
either side of the question, so sought
his home, and then through the railing
Of woman's tongue, chose his course
If action.
Pretty Dolly Carruth-his wife-was
happy in all things but that feminine
matter of dress. Hitherto her Eus-
bands income as Sheriff had given her
ample opportunity to be leader of
fashion. But now his impending de-
eat meant to her change of circum-
stances, that implied economy and fol-
owing, reduced position in the
social scale.
She could not bear to think of that
ate. 1t was heart-rendering and the
more she brocded over the prospect
he more her anger rose against her
for not being able to win. Ii
She gave him no sympathy in his eff
orts to check the tide that was running
against him, but rather tainted him for
lis weakness.
This particular night when Carruth,
leart-sick, came into the CHEEKY parlor
where she sat, she met him with the re-
,roach, 1T is shame, Luke Carruth.
o worry me SO. Isuppose you know
low badly you are beaten. I thought
hat when I married you that you ,
would always have protected me from
UGH trouble as this. I wish the cleo
ion was over, and that we were out of
his, and that I was dead" and here
acking words she burst into tears.
Carruth stood in the center of the
ho hoI e{o - /